Thursday, June 14, 2012

Comics: Philosophy and Practice

From left: W.J.T. Mitchell and Spiegelman

Comics: Philosophy and Practice (CPP) marked a turning point
in my life as a researcher. If it’s not too dramatic, I’d like to say that the
conference created a B(efore)CPP and an A(fter)CPP. What CPP did that no other
event had accomplished previously, is show me what an academic comics-oriented
career looks like and that Chicago is an epicenter for the field. Hillary
Chute, an English professor at the University of Chicago, organized the
conference, moderated panels, and enlisted a number of other professors to lead
discussions. I doubt I was the only person that coveted her job.

So, why was this conference so mind-blowing/life changing/amazing?

The guests: While
at the conference, one of the speakers made an observation. The participants were
staying at a hotel downtown and all took the same bus to Hyde Park. If
something were to happen to the bus, the alternative comics world would lose
all of its superstars. That bus contained R. Crumb, Chris Ware, Art Spiegelman,
Lynda Barry, Daniel Clowes, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Charles Burns, Seth, Alison
Bechdel, and Joe Sacco among others. It’s a rare occasion when all of these
people are in the same city, and an extraordinary one where they are in the
same room.

From left: Chute, Burns, Clowes, Seth, and Ware

The talks: On
Friday, I heard Spiegelman’s “What the %$#! Happened to Comics” where he spoke
about his career trajectory and the evolution of comics from the lowest art to being
praised by academics. One would think that might be a positive thing, but
Spiegelman lamented the loss of the vulgar. Aline Kominsky-Crumb’s one-on-one
discussion with Kristen Schilt gave a new perspective to her work from her
start in the underground to teaching classes in France. “Graphic Novel
Forms Today” with Ware, Seth, Clowes, and Burns was my favorite talk because these
creators formed my comics aesthetic and the publishing process fascinates me. All
of these authors give special attention to how their comics are formatted. Clowes’
decision to choose a thick, cardboard cover for Wilson was an attempt to protect him from the outside world. Cornell
Boxes inspired Chris Ware’s next project, which contains a narrative told
across books and foldouts. I wanted to ask them if cost and affordability was
an issue when considering formatting.

The people: I was
volunteering, so I got to meet other comics fanatics and have good discussions.
I also met the owner of Quimby’s and Chicago Comics and interviewed him today.
Look for a post about that in the next month.

I’m glad, that of all the places I could have ended up, I
live in Chicago. I knew before that it had a strong reputation as a bastion of
comics in the Midwest, but after CPP, I think it’s going to receive attention
worldwide.